React Native vs Expo: A Complete Comparison for Mobile Developers

Introduction

When building cross-platform mobile applications with JavaScript, React Native is often the go-to framework. However, developers frequently face a choice: should they use bare React Native or Expo, the popular toolchain built around React Native?

Both options have their strengths and trade-offs, and the right choice depends on project requirements, team expertise, and long-term goals. This post explores the key differences between React Native and Expo, their advantages, limitations, and practical considerations to help you make an informed decision.

1. Core Differences: Bare React Native vs. Expo

React Native (Bare Workflow)

React Native, developed by Facebook, provides a bare-metal approach to mobile development. It allows developers to integrate native modules, customize native code (Java/Kotlin for Android, Objective-C/Swift for iOS), and optimize performance for complex applications.

Key Features:

• Full access to native APIs and third-party libraries.
• Greater control over build configurations.
• Requires Xcode (iOS) and Android Studio (Android) for native development.

Example: Installing a Native Module
To add a native module like react-native-camera, you must manually link it:

npm install react-native-camera  
npx react-native link react-native-camera

Expo (Managed Workflow)

Expo simplifies React Native development by abstracting native complexities. It provides a managed environment with pre-configured tools, OTA updates, and a rich ecosystem of Expo SDK modules.

Key Features:

• No native code required (unless ejected).
• Built-in tools like expo-cli, Expo Go for testing.
• Limited access to unimplemented native APIs.

Example: Using Expo’s Camera Module
Expo provides its own expo-camera module, which works without native linking:

npx expo install expo-camera

2. Development Experience

React Native (Bare Workflow)

• Pros:
  • Full flexibility for custom native integrations.
  • Better suited for performance-critical apps.
• Cons:
  • Requires handling native dependencies manually.
  • Longer setup time (Xcode, Android SDK, etc.).

Expo (Managed Workflow)

• Pros:
  • Faster setup with expo init.
  • Live reloading and OTA updates for rapid iteration.
  • No need for Mac (for iOS builds via EAS).
• Cons:
  • Limited to Expo’s SDK (unless ejected).
  • Larger app size due to bundled Expo libraries.

3. Performance and Native Capabilities

React Native (Bare Workflow)

• Performance:
  • Better for CPU/GPU-intensive apps (e.g., gaming, AR/VR).
  • Direct access to native optimizations.
• Native Modules:
  • Can integrate any third-party native library.

Example: Using a Custom Native Module
If you need a custom native feature, you can write platform-specific code:

Android (Kotlin):

class CustomModule(reactContext: ReactApplicationContext) :  
    ReactContextBaseJavaModule(reactContext) {  
    override fun getName() = "CustomModule"  

    @ReactMethod  
    fun showToast(message: String) {  
        Toast.makeText(reactApplicationContext, message, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show()  
    }  
}

Expo (Managed Workflow)

• Performance:
  • Slightly slower due to abstraction layers.
  • Expo Go adds overhead in development.
• Native Modules:
  • Limited to Expo’s SDK (expo-device, expo-sensors, etc.).
  • Ejecting to bare workflow is possible but irreversible.

4. Deployment and Distribution

React Native (Bare Workflow)

• Build Process:
  • Requires manual configuration for iOS (fastlane) and Android (gradle).
• App Stores:
  • Full control over signing and release pipelines.

Expo (Managed Workflow)

• Build Process:
  • Simplified with eas build (Expo Application Services).
• App Stores:
  • Expo handles certificates and provisioning profiles.
  • OTA updates allow instant bug fixes.

Example: Building with EAS

eas build --platform android  
eas build --platform ios

Conclusion

Choosing between React Native (bare workflow) and Expo depends on your project’s needs:

• Use React Native if:

  • You need deep native integrations.
  • Performance is critical.
  • Your team is comfortable with native development.

• Use Expo if:

  • You want a faster development cycle.
  • You don’t need unsupported native features.
  • You prefer a managed build process.

For many projects, starting with Expo and ejecting later (if needed) is a practical approach. However, complex apps with custom native requirements may benefit from the bare workflow from the outset.

By understanding these trade-offs, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your team’s expertise and project goals.